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State would match sales tax

Jackson County vote

Posted: Friday, March 11, 2005

By Todd DeFeotodd.defeo@onlineathens.com

JEFFERSON - The state Department of Transportation will commit additional road money to Jackson County, should voters approve a 1 percent special-purpose, local-option sales tax at a referendum Tuesday.

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For each dollar from SPLOST that the county plans to spend on road or bridge projects, the DOT will match funding with 75 cents, DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl wrote in a March 4 letter to Jackson County Commission Chairwoman Pat Bell. The commitment is subject to voters approving a six-year continuation of the SPLOST.

"Seventy-five cents on the dollar. Who can beat that?" said Betty Wright, a program technician with the DOT's Office of State Aid.

County officials anticipate raising $51 million with the SPLOST. Of that, about 25 percent - or $12.7 million - will be used on road-related projects in Jackson County and its nine cities, according to an analysis of the proposed spending.

The county could gain an additional $9.5 million with the matching DOT funds.

The agreement is subject to available funding, Linnenkohl wrote in his letter. The DOT is looking at funding sources at not only the state level but also from the federal government, Linnenkohl wrote.

Should voters on Tuesday approve the SPLOST, county officials will have 60 days to submit a report to the DOT's Office of State Aid detailing the SPLOST, including how much will be spent on road-related projects. County officials must submit an annual report noting the completion of projects and changes in transportation needs, Linnenkohl wrote.

Similar funding commitments are available on a statewide basis from the DOT, Wright said. After meeting with county officials, Linnenkohl makes a final approval for such commitments.

In Jackson County, money from the DOT match must go toward "mutually acceptable" transportation projects agreed to by the county and the DOT, Linnenkohl wrote.